Rosenfeld, Y; Warszawski, A and Laufer, A (1992) Using quality circles to raise productivity and quality of work life. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 118(1), pp. 17-33. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
The participative-creative approach of quality circles, for simultaneous enhancement of productivity and quality of work life, has been introduced in many leading manufacturing and service corporations in the West within the general trend of adopting so-called Japanese managerial approaches. The construction industry, however, by and large has failed to use the potential of this powerful approach, apparently due to the mismatch commonly seen between the participative, long-term, people-building process of quality circles and the “hostile” environment of the construction industry, which features instability, temporary employment, and an ever-changing work setting. This paper presents a counterintuitive hypothesis arguing that construction also features several unique conditions that impart special merit to the quality-circle approach: The combination of low initial efficiency and dynamic, multiphase projects guarantees a continuous flow of significant and challenging problems for treatment by the circles, while the authority of site managers to implement significant modifications without further approval can save the frustration observed in many quality-circle programs. The main part of the paper deals with actual field treatments. Findings are presented in statistical terms as well as in case studies and benefit/cost analyses.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Index terms: | employment, productivity, efficiency, case study, construction industry, mismatch, site manager, cost analysis, approval, guarantee, building process, quality circle, program |
| Subjects: | financial and cost management, practitioner, engineering problems, contractual role, data collection methods, industry analysis, building construction, performance measurement, contract structure, management, performance management, software systems |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Procurement, Roles and Professions, Human Resources, Quality Management, Digital Applications, Site Management, Contract Administration |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here